I certainly don’t want to offend anyone, it’s a valid and popular subject, but this is the type of thread I’d put on ignore. For the same reasons PistonHeads supercars section is completely useless these days as every thread becomes an obsession about money....and axe grinding by the hard done to.
If TM follows this trend I’ll be off.
It's a fair point Ewan, but please don't go.
I find it interesting that many of the discussions about money and resale value reflect exactly the same kind of issues that companies face with managing their IT estate, and I'm currently doing my last piece of consultancy on this.
The issue comes down to 3 core facts:
1. Ignorance is Very Expensive
2. People (and Cars) are not Fungible Assets
3. If you want to punch above your weight, you have to add value yourself.
In IT terms this means that
a. If you don't know much, you'll be fleeced by sharp-suited "consultants". Me? I wear jeans and tweed jackets, so I don't count
b. Depending on being able to always buy in the right set of skills from the market is highly risky and highly expensive. The best people get 'hogged' by the best clients.
c. If you want to differentiate your offering from your competitors, you are going to have to add some creativity to the base offering.
In used car terms, it's pretty much the same:
a. If you don't know how to assess a car, you're at more risk of buying a lemon - or you pay more than you need to to get the right result.
b. One 2 year old 3,000 mile car is not the same as another even if they are the same price. Too often I think people are swayed by things that don't matter because they can be changed later.
c. You can reduce the cost of ownership immensely by getting stuck in yourself. You don't have to fork out £50k to drive around in a £50k car.
